Address the gaps in your work history

Gaps in your resume are often frowned upon by potential employers.

Photograph by: Stock photo
, Thinkstock

One of the hard realities of the job search is that employers tend to trust solid work histories over those that have long or frequent interruptions.

But it's also a reality that many job applicants will experience a period of separation from the workforce.

Restrictive economies, health issues, child-rearing or caring for ailing relatives are all valid (and sometimes inescapable) reasons for taking a time out from the working world. These opposing truths raise the question of how job-seekers can explain gaps in a way that will reassure the prospective employer they are not a "slacker," or someone who will become a liability to the company.

The good news is that, owing to the evolving nature of today's economic climate, gaps in your work history don't have the same degree of stigma as in the past.

All the same, it's wise for you as an applicant to show how you've stayed involved in your target field during your "break" from active duty. Did you do freelancing, consulting, or volunteer work? Take upgrading courses? Serve on a board of directors? Any or all of these initiatives will show employers that you are committed to the industry, staying on top of developments and keeping your skills sharp.

Also, be prepared to focus lots of energy on building and maintaining a professional network, as contacts are vital to staying connected in your industry.

Another approach to addressing work-history gaps is to explain how your activities during this time helped you grow as a person and a prospective employee. For example, if you took time out from work to raise a family, you can use a few strategic anecdotes to illustrate how this experience enhanced your ability to multi-task, solve problems, or manage time and stress.

A terrific approach to addressing workplace gaps is contained in one job seeker's response to an interview question. When the interviewer asked why it was taking her so long to find work, she replied that the cause was the economy and the labour market, two things that were beyond her control. She then turned the focus of her answer to the things she could control — what she had been doing to improve herself and stay up-to-date professionally during her work hiatus, namely activities like those described above.

One of your hardest, but also most important, tasks when dealing with an externally-imposed break from working is to keep from falling into the deep, dark well of self-pity.

To prevent this, make every effort to hang around with people who are supportive and upbeat, rather than negative and self-defeating. Above all, take heart in the fact that you're not alone. Thousands of others are in a similar boat, and the only ones doomed to failure are those who give up paddling. Keep laying into those oars, and sooner or later you'll be rewarded.

Gaps in your resume are often frowned upon by potential employers.

Photograph by: Stock photo, Thinkstock

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